Fastener applying tool



March 30, 1943. H. w. KOST FASTENER APPLYING TOOL Ham/a W K052 s Sheets-Sheet 1' Filed Feb. 24, 1940 March 30, 1943. H. w. KOST FASTENER APPLYING 'TOOL 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 24, 1940 0 a a E P2 5 a H. W. KOST FASTENER APPLYING TOOL March '30, 1943.

Filed Feb. 24, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 F i I8. 9 A5 7 Patented Mar. 30, 1943 FASTENER APPLYING TOOL Harold W. Kost, Birmingham, Mich, asslgnor to Detroit Harvester Company, Detroit, Mich, a

corporation of Michigan Application February 24, 1940, Serial No. 320.525

14 Claims.

This invention relates to a tool for applying sheet metal fasteners to a stud, shank or the like,

and an object is to produce a new and improved tool of this character which is supplied with a sizable number of such fasteners which can be readily and conveniently advanced or fed into position of use so that the individual fasteners can :be speedily mounted as desired, thereby greatly reducing the time required for assembly operations as well as facilitating their application.

Another object is to produce a tool for applying fasteners of the above character which is equipped with a magazine to contain a sizable number of fasteners, the tool having an actuator for conveniently feeding fasteners successively into the line of travel of a plunger which operates to force the fastener upon the stud or the like.

A further object is to produce a tool of the above character which is'adapted to receive a roll of fasteners in ribbon form, the ribbon being intermittently advanced-to position the foremost fastener in position of use and sever it from the supply in a predetermined or desired manner.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear and for purposes of i1lustration but not of limitation, embodiments of the invention are shown on the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section of a tool for applying apertured sheet metal fasteners to a stud or the like and which is equipped with a magazine for containing a stack of fasteners;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of one of the aper-" tured sheet metal fasteners;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the lower portion of the magazine showing the actuator for advancing or feeding fasteners and the spring for holding the fastener in position for engagement by theplunger;

Figure 4 is a sectional view substantially onthe line t-t of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the position .of the parts assumed when the actuator has advanced a fastener to useful position;

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view on the line fi-t of Figure 5;

. Figure 7 is a side elevation partly in section of [the tool showing the position assumed by the parts when a fastener has been applied to a stud;

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the plunger forcing a fastener upon a' stud;

Figure 9 is a side elevation partly in section of a an alternate form of tool employing a supply roll made up of a continuous ribbon of individual fasteners connected to each other by a relatively thin connecting piece;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the position of the parts when the foremost fastener of the ribbon has been advanced to position of use;

Figure 11 is a plan view of a portion of the ribbon formed from a series of fasteners Figure 12 is a view of the tool similar to Figure 9 but showing the position of the parts after a fastener has been forced upon the stud;

Figure 13 is an enlarged transverse sectional view on the line Iii-l3 in Figure 9;

Figure 14 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the manner in which the foremost fastener is severed from the supply ribbon;

Figure 15 is a vertical sectional elevation of another alternate form of tool employing a cam element for advancing fasteners laterally to position of use;

Figure 16 is a fragmentary sectional view of the lower end portion of the tool shown in Figure 15 showing thecam depressed and the fastener advanced to position beneath the plunger and Joined by dotted lines, the plunger having applied the fastener to a stud;

Figure 17 is a view substantially on the line |'|ll oiFigure l5;

Figure 18 is a plan view of the fastener actuating slide;

Figure 19 is a sectional view on the line I 9-I 9 of Figure 15;

Figure 20 is a sectional view on the line 20-20 of Figure 15; and

Fig-ure 21 is a sectional view on the line 2 I2| of Figure 16.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention shown on Figures 1 to 8 comprises a tool T for applying fasteners such'as F, to a plain shank rivet or stud S. For example, the stud S is formed with a head H at one end which abuts against a supporting panel P, passing through an opening in such panel and also through an opening in a panel A which it is desired to attach or secure to the panel P. For this purpose, the fastener F is forced upon the stud S on the outer side of the panel A and into engagement with it (Figure 7), so that the two panels A and P are securely held together in assembled relation. The fastener F in this instance is of sheet metal and provided with a longitudinal camber with opposite end portions thereof formed with upturned scription is given merely by way vof example.

Fasteners of this general character are well- 1 known to those skilled in this art and more detail description or illustration thereof is not considered necessary.

The tool consists of a body portion I3 formed .with an enlargement H atom side which extends a portion of the length thereof and has a cavity l5 to receive a helical spring l5, one end of which bears against the bottom wall of the cavity IS, the opposite end bearing against a collar I! which is mounted on a plunger I8 for longitudinal adjusting movements. The plunger I8 is mounted for longitudinal sliding movements relative to the cavity l5 and is urged to its normal or raised position by the coil spring H5. The lower end I9 of the plunger below the enlargement I4 is reduced and is formed with a hollow bore of a size to have a nice sliding flt over the pin or stud S. The upper end portion of the plunger l8 has a reduced extension 2| and mounted on the extreme upper end of the extension 2| is a knob or handle 22.

Mounted for sliding movements on the plunger extension 2| is a handle 23, which normally rests against a shoulder 24 formed between the plunger l8 and extension 2|. Integral with the body portion l3 and extending outwardly therefrom beneath and in substantially parallel relation to the handle 23 is an arm 25 and interposed between the arm 25 and handle 23 is a coil spring 26. The movement of the handle 23 toward the arm 25 is limited by a set screw 21 carried by the arm 25 which provides an adjustable stop for the downward movement of the handle 23.

Secured to the underside of the handle 23 is a depending arm 28 which is reciprocable in a guideway 28 formed in the body portion l3 of the tool. Fixed to the lower end portion of the arm 28 is a flexible metal tape or ribbon 30 which slides in a slot 3| which inclines downwardly and outwardly and then gradually curves downwardly and inwardly. To the lower end of the tape 30 and disposed in a plane at substantially right angles to the plane of movement of the plunger is an actuating element 32 which as will herein-' the guideway 28 is a magazine consisting of a tube 33 the inside of which is shaped to accommodate a stack of fastener F. The upper end of the tube 33 is closed by a plate 34 which is detachably secured to the body portion by a screw 35. The plate 34 has anintegral extension which engages in a groove 28' in the arm 28 for assisting in guiding the reciprocating movement of the I arm. The plate 34 not only closes the upper end of the tube but also provides a mounting for a follower spring 38 which carries a follower plate 31 at its lower end, the plate exerting pressure vided along which the actuating element 32 forces the lowermost fastener F, the ledges 38 being continued along the extension 40 in order suitably to support the fastener. It is also to be understood that the side edge portions of the actuating element 32 are likewise guided along the ledges 38.

Adjacent the outer end of the extension 48 is a leaf spring 4| which is secured at 42 to the underside of the extension 48. The free end of the spring 4| is curved downwardly as is also the lip 43 at the outer end of the extension. The spring 4| cooperates with the lip 43 to grip the rearmost flange Id of the fastener F when the latter has been advanced to the position shown on Figure 5. In this position the fastener is in position directly vbeneath the plunger I9 so that the latter may force the fastener upon the subjacent stud S.

From the above description, it will be apparent that when the handle 23 is grasped and forced toward the arm 25, not only will the lowermost fastener from the stack be moved laterally to complished independently of the handle 23.

Upon release of the knob 22 the spring I6 cooperating with the spring 26 returns the handle 23 and plunger l8 to its normal or raised position. The return movement of the handle 23 operates to move the actuating element 32 to the right or laterally away from the plunger so that it is in position to engagethe next succeeding fastener F. The spring pressed follower plate 31 continually urges the stack downwardly so that the lowermost fastener is always in the proper position to be engaged by the actuating element 32 upon its next feeding or fastener advancing movement.

In the form of the invention shown on Figures 9 to 14, a supply roll of fasteners is employed instead of a stack of separate fasteners. As indicated on Figure 11, the fasteners F are in ribbon form arranged in endwise relation with adjacent fasteners connected by a relatively narrow centrally disposed integral connecting part 44. The spirally wound ribbon is mounted in a holder or magazine composed of a lateral extension 45 of the frame over which a cover 46 fits to retain the roll in position. The roll is provided with a core 41 which is rotatably mounted on a pin 48. The free end of the ribbon passes along a down-, wardiy inclined channel 49 and is engaged in the region between the foremost fastener F and the next succeeding one by a pair of substantially V-shaped spring fingers 50 which straddle the respective connecting piece 44, as indicated on Figure 14.

The fingers 50 are integral with the end portion of the metal tape 30a which is longitudinally movable in a guideway lla shaped somewhat similarly to the guideway 3| above described. The upper end of the tape is connected to a vertical reciprocable arm 28a which is connected to a laterally extending handle 23a; The handle 23a is slidably mounted on the plunger Illa which is provided with a knob 22a. The plunger lta. is reciprocable in a lateral extension Ila of the body portion and a coil spring l6a urges the plunger upwardly in a manner similar to the spring i6 above described. Interpcsed between the top of the extension a and the handle 23a is a coil spring 26a, which normally holds the handle 23a in its raised position. An adjustable screw 21a provides a stop for limiting the movement of the handle 23a toward the lateral ex-' tending arm 25a.

an axial bore 82.

It will be manifest that upon downward movement of the handle 23a relatively to the arm a, the depending arm 28a is moved downwardly thereby imparting a downward movement to the metal tape 3Ia, the lower end portion of which is caused to move laterally in'a direction toward the plunger Illa. The spring fingers 50 engage on opposite sides of the connecting piece 44 in rear of the foremost fastener and impart movement to the ribbon, thereby causing the foremost fastener to move forwardly, substantially to the position indicated on Figure 10. As indicated on Figure 13, the longitudinal edge portions of the ribbon engage in guideways 5| thereby causing the fasteners to move forwardly in the desired manner.

In order to sever the foremost fastener F from the next succeeding one, a knife 52 is fixed to the lower end portion of the plunger I80 and extends a slight distance beyond the lower end of the plunger. The severing operation does not take place until after the fastener F has been applied to the stud S.

The sequence of operations is as follows: the

handle 23a is first gripped and forced toward the arm 25a whereupon the ribbon formed by the fasteners F is advanced as above described. The foremost fastener, which is then in the position indicated in Figure 10, is locatedpdirectly over the stud S and the plunger I 8a is then forced downwardly to force the fastener upon the stud as hereinbefore described. When the plimger has nearly completed itsoperation, the knife 52 movesbetween the spring fingers 50, as indicated on Figure 14, and employing ,the panel A which is to be attached to the supporting structure P, as a backing, effects a cutting or shearing of the connecting piece 44. Thereupon the plunger I841 is released and moves up-- wardly under the action of the coilspring l6a. Upon the release of the handle 23a the spring 26a causes it to move upwardly and the spring fingers ride over the next succeeding fastener F and come to rest in position to engage the rear edge of the next succeeding fastener preparatory to the next advancing movement of the fastener ribbon. It will be.understood that sumcient space is afforded above the fastener ribbon to enable the spring fingers 50 to ride rearwardly thereover, such movement being made possible by the inclination of the V-shaped fingers substantially as shown on the drawings.

In the form of the invention shown on Figures 15 to 21, a cylinder 53 receives a reciprocatorially mounted instrument 54 which is provided with a laterally extending pin 55 and rides 'in a vertically elongate slot 56 in the cylinder 53. The instru- The instrument 54- is substantially apin punch of the type available on the market and wellknown to those skilled in the art'of punching holes in sheet metal and other similar materials. In the operation of this instrument, the knob 51 is pushed down and after a predetermined pressure is imparted to the pin 60, a spring pressedplunger is automatically released and delivers a sharp blow against the pin ill. Each time that pressure is imparted against the pin en, a blow of predetermined force is imparted thereto. Since instruments of this character are wellknown in the trade, and inasmuch. as the construction thereof forms no part of the present invention, further description and illustration is fasteners hereinbefore described. Engaging the uppermost fastener of the stack is a follower.

plate 65 which rides in a vertical slot 66 in the side of the magazine 64. For imparting a spring pressure against the follower plate 65 to urge the stack of fasteners downwardly, a spiral spring 61 is carried by a bracket 68 on the support 63 and has an extension 59 which is fastened to the outer side of the follower plate 65.

The lower end of the magazine 64 opens into a horizontally disposed guideway Ill formed in the support 63. Slidable in the guideway i0 is a fastener actuating slide H, side edge portions of which ride in oppositely disposed grooves 12 in theaguideway l0, and an' elongate slot 13 extends throughout the lower portion of the guideway 10. The actuating slide is formed with a horizontally elongate slot 14 and at one end of the slot is an upwardly offset lip 15. The lip 15. as indicated on Figures 15 and 16, is adapted to engage the rear edge of the lowermost fastener .F of the stack and advance such fastener to bracket which is secured to the underside of the support 63.

Feeding movement is imparted to the actuating slide T! by a vertically reciprocatory cam yoke 8| having a pair of yoke arms 82 which straddle the fastener magazine- 64. Movement of the yoke M is guided by pins 83 which project outwardly from the sides of-the magazine 64 into vertically elongate slots 84 in the yoke arms 82. Projecting laterally from the upperend of the yoke 8| is a handle 85 which is normally spaced above a cooperating grip arm 85 which is fixed to the cylinder 53. The, yoke 8| is yieldingly held in its raised position by a coil spring 81 which is connected respectively to the magazine 6| and yoke 8|.

Formed on the lower end of each yoke arm 82 is a downwardly and rearwardly inclined cam surface 88 against which pins 89 projecting laterally'from the slide 'II, are held by the spring 18. It is apparent that upon depression of the handle 85 toward the griphandle 86, the cam surfaces 88 impart an advancing movement to gripped by downturned spring fingers 90 on the slide (Figure 20).

Depending from the support 83 beneath the cylinder 53 are legs 9| which are adapted to rest upon the panel D which is to be joined to a supporting panel E by the stud S. For locating the tool with respect to the stud S, a bent strip 92 depends from the underside of the slide II. The locater strip is first brought into contact with the stud S as indicated on Figure 15 and then the actuating slide H is operatedto feed a fastener to station 99, and then while the handle 85 is held down, the knob 51 is forced downwardly to cause the plunger slide to push the fastener upon the stud S as indicated by dotted lines on Figure 16. The-handle 85 then released and the actuating slide H returns to its normal position preparatory to the next advancing movement. Likewise the instrument 54 is spring returned to its normal position.

From the above description, it will be apparent that I have provided an exceedingly simple and compact tool for applying sheet metal fasteners to studs or the like. Since these fasteners are frequentlyvery small and diflicult and timeconsuming to handle and apply to the studs, it willbe realized that by the use of this tool, the cost of assembling operations is materially reduced, enabling an operator rapidly and emcientlyto apply fasteners of the character described above with considerably less time consumed and without the necessity of carrying a numbe of individual fasteners loosely and with 'the consequent loss of many of them. It will be realized that slight changes in the contour of the actuating element and associated parts may be necessary to accommodate similar fasteners of slightly different configuration.

It is to be understood that numerous changes in details of construction, arrangement and operation may be effected without departing from the spirit of the invention especially as defined in the. appended claims.

What I claim is;

1. A tool for applying-fasteners including a frame, a reciprocab plunger element having means for applying the fastenerscarried by the frame,a magazine for the fasteners, an ejector operating in a plane at substantially right angles to the plane of movement of the plunger element for ejecting the fasteners from the magazine into i the path of movement of the plunger element,

means to return the plunger element to inoperative position following operation thereof, a

handle element having slidable connection with the plunger element to provide for movement of the plunger element, in applying a fastener, independently of movement of the handle element, means carried by said plunger element and engageable by-the handle element whereby to move the plunger element to cause its fastener applying means to lie adjacent to the ejected fastener, a metal tape connected to the handle element for operation thereby and connected to the ejector to operate the latter, and means to guide the movement of the tape whereby movement of the handle element effects said movement of the .ejector at substantially right angles to the plane in which the plunger element operates.

2. A tool in accordance with claim 1, wherein the handle element is formed with an opening which slidably receives the plunger element therethrough, and wherein the means to move the plunger element to lie adjacent to the ejected fastener consists of an abutment on the plunger element engageable with the handle element. 7 l

3. A tool in accordance with claim 1, wherein the handle is disposed at substantially right angles to the plunger and the slidable connection is in the form of an opening in the handle and which slidably receives the plunger therethrough, and wherein there isan arm rigidly connected to the frame and disposed parallel to and spaced from the handle.

4. A tool in accordance with claim 1, wherein there is a member rigidly connected to and depending from the handle element and' which is slidable within the guide means and to which the upper end of the tape is connected.

5. A tool in accordance with claim 1, wherein the handle element is disposed at substantially right angles to the plunger element and is formed with an opening which slidably receives the,

ment, and wherein there is a coil spring interposedflbetween the arm and handle element to restore the latter to normal position following operation thereof.

6. A tool in accordance with claim 1, wherein the-handle element is disposed at substantially right angles to the plunger element and the slidable connection is in the form of an opening in the handle and which slidably receives the plunger therethrough; wherein there is an arm element rigidly connected to the frame and disposed parallel to and spaced from the handle element; wherein there is a coil spring disposed between the arm element and handle .element to restore the latter to normal position following operation thereof, and wherein there is means to limit the movement of the handle element toward the arm element carried by one of said last two elements. I

7. A tool for applying fasteners including a frame, a reciprocal plunger having means for applying the fasteners carried by the frame, a magazine for the fasteners, means for ejecting the fasteners from the magazine into the path of movement of the plunger, a handle, means on the plunger engageable by the handle uponmovement; in one operation to move the plunger to cause the fastener applying means thereof to lie adjacent to the ejected fastener, a movable connection between the plunger and handle to permit independent operation of the plunger with respect to the handle in a second operation, means connected to the handle and to the ejecting means and operable by the handle to actuate the ejecting means, and means to return the plunger to inoperative position following operation thereof.

8. A tool in accordance with claim 7, wherein there is an arm rigidly carried bythe frame and disposed substantially parallel to the handle whereby the operator may grip the handle and arm in one hand to actuate the ejecting means,

and a spring interposed between the handle and arm to restore the handle to normal position following operation thereof.

9. A tool in accordance with claim '7, wherein there is an arm rigidly carried by the frame and disposed substantially parallel to the handle whereby the operator may grip the handle and arm in one hand to actuate the ejecting means, wherein there is a spring interposed between the handle and arm to restore the handle to normal position following operation thereof, and wherein there is means between the handle and arm to restrict movement of the handle relative to the arm and which is carried by one of the two last named elements.

10. A tool in accordance with claim 7, wherein the means by which the handle moves the plunger includes an abutment on the plunger engageable with the handle whereby upon movement of the handle to operate the ejecting means the plunger will be moved to said position adjacent to the ejected fastener.

11. A tool for applying fasteners including a frame, a reciprocable plunger having means for applying the fasteners carried by the frame, a handle for operating the plunger, a magazine for the fasteners, an ejector operating in a plane at substantially right angles to the plane of movement of the plunger for ejecting the fasteners from the magazine into the path of movement of the plunger, means to return the plunger to inoperative position following operation thereof, a flexible unitary and bodily slidable metal tape connected at one end thereof to the ejector to operate the latter, means having connection with the opposite end of the tape to actuate the tape and thereby the ejector, and means engaging the opposite faces and edges of the tape to guide the movements thereof throughout its length, where-= by upon reciprocal movements of the handle to effect said movement of the ejector at substantially right angles to the plane in which the plunger operates.

12. A tool in accordance with claim 11, wherein there is means to restore the tape actuating means and therewith the tape to inoperative position following operation thereof.

13. A tool for applying fasteners, including a frame, a reciprocal plunger having means for applying the fasteners carried by the frame, a maga= zine for the fasteners, means for ejecting the fasteners from the magazine into the path of movement of the plunger, an arm rigidly carried by the frame and disposed at substantially right angles to the plunger, a reciprocal handle disposed and movable in a plane substantially par,- allel to that in which the arm lies, means for mounting the handle for bodily sliding movement in said plane in all positions of the handl and adjacent to the so that both can be gripped in one hand of the operator, and means connected to the handle and to the ejecting mean to op= -erate the ejecting means.

14. A tool for applying fasteners including a frame, a reciprocal plunger having means for applying the fasteners carried by the frame, means for operating the plunger, a holder for the fasteners, means for ejecting the fasteners from the holder into the path of movement of the plunger, means connected to the plunger operating means andconnected to the ejecting means for operating the ejecting means, said plunger opcrating means including means thereon engageable with the plunger for moving the plunger to a position adjacent to the elected fastener, and means for movably connecting said means for operating the plunger to the latter whereby to provide for further movement of the plunger independent of its operating means thereby to apply the fastener upon completion of the movement of the ejecting means.

HAROLD W. KOST. 

